Energy absorbing sports board

ABSTRACT

An energy absorbing sports board assembly positioned at a periphery of a playing surface, includes: a catch plate having front surface facing a playing surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface of the catch plate; a frame having a front facing the playing surface, a back opposite to the front, a bottom portion positioned near the playing surface, a top portion opposite to the bottom portion, and first and second side portions between the top and bottom portions; a first extension hinge extending out from the first side portion of the frame; a second extension hinge extending out from the second side portion of the frame; a first elongated slot in the first extension hinge; a second elongated slot in the second extension hinge; and a dasher board on the front of the frame, wherein the bottom portion of the frame is positioned adjacent to the back surface of the catch plate and the bottom portion of the frame can laterally deflect away from the catch plate during impact on front of the front of the frame.

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/939,320, filed Jul. 11, 2013, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Technical Field

Protective barriers for a sports arena.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Ice hockey is a fast and sometimes violent sport. Research has shownthat almost 6 percent of all professional hockey players suffer aconcussion every season. Other studies have indicated that an averagehigh school hockey player has a risk of approximately 1 in 2000 ofexperiencing a concussion during each practice or game in which theyparticipate. Most high school teams have 20 or more players with anapproximate 10 week season. If the average team has a game or practice 5times per week, then the average team would experience a concussion onceevery year. There has been extensive focus on concussions over the lastseveral years, hockey players continue to face paralyzing spinal cordinjuries. Although these injuries are far less common than concussions,the effects are both catastrophic and permanent. Finally, most of theconcussions associated with high school hockey and all of the paralyzingaccidents involve a player striking the boards. If the existing boardsystems can be replaced with a more forgiving board system, many of theconcussions and virtually all of the paralyzing accidents can beeliminated.

Current technology focuses primarily upon the barrier as a means to keepthe hockey puck and the players within the playing field. Hockey pucksare hit at high speed and would injure spectators if not contained. Thetop portion of the barrier must be a of a see-through material so thatthe front rows of spectators can see through the barrier to the playingsurface and yet be protected by it.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,267, Burley, discloses a dasher board system forsports arenas fixed to the floor through the ice of a hockey rink usinga spring to permit a slight deflection and return the board system toits original position. The entire structure deflects when impacted onthe playing surface side. A spring held in place with a bolt threadedthrough the ice to the floor secured by nut returns the board systemafter deflection caused by impact. The least deflection is closest tothe impact of a player sliding along the ice. The entire structuredeflects meaning that the see through top portion moves the most whereasimpacts in that area are more likely to be with players standing hittingtheir shoulders and upper bodies. Head first impacts, most likely toresult in concussions or paralyzing injuries, are more likely to occurwith fallen players sliding on the ice or impacting near the floor ofthe arena.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,217, Johnston, discloses a flexible board assemblywith shock absorbing features similar in theory (but different instructure) to the Burley '267 patent. The entire structure is fixed tothe floor and pivots when impacted about a point slightly above thefloor (ice in a hockey rink). This disclosure uses a two-part structurefor the lower portion of the dasher board system. The structure pivotsabout a point slightly above the floor and uses an internal spring setto return the deflected assembly to its original position. Thisdisclosure has no deflection at the very bottom where it is attached tothe floor of the arena. Players sliding along the ice have little or nodeflection when they impact the dasher board at this location.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,461 B2, Frazier, discloses placing a spring behindthe panel to absorb the impact and deflect board system slightly. Thisis essentially a shock absorber system. It does not allow for a moresubstantial deflection (and hence energy dissipation) of the boardsystem at the bottom, where the danger of head injury is the greatest.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,250,818 Tremblay discloses energy brace apparatus thatdissipates the force that is substantially different from the presentinvention.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2012/0261867 A1, Gilkes,discloses a shock absorber system for the glass where a door allowsaccess into the playing surface. This disclosure does not have thepivoting features of the present invention and does not absorb anddissipate energy close to or at the playing surface.

Additional dasher board or barriers for hockey rinks and similar sportsstadiums are found in prior art. They primarily relate to the ease ofconstruction or strength such as World Intellectual PropertyOrganization Publication No. WO2008/152210 A1 which discloses a boardstructure for ice hockey rink and contains references to several UnitedStates patents. The primary focus of this disclosure is to make iteasier to move and reassemble the ice hockey rink board structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the energy absorbing sports board assembly describedherein is to provide a more forgiving wall that deflects sufficiently toreduce peak g loading experienced during high speed impacts toapproximately half of the values associated with the conventional boardsystem. Decreasing g loading by 50% should have a dramatic effect on thesafety performance of hockey boards. The most likely occasion for a headfirst impact by a player is in the lower portion of the dasher boardsystem. Players falling and sliding along the ice or falling as theyimpact the board are most likely to hit their head on the board andparticularly head first impacts occur in this area. This system providesthe greatest energy absorption closest to the playing surface.

The energy absorbing hockey board system relies upon six design featuresto reduce the g loading experienced by an impacting player and preventmovement when impacted by a puck. These design features include a highstrength steel tubing frame system filled with structural foam; hingesthat allow each wall panel to rotate with respect to the adjacent paneland allow the panel spacing to change; a pre-tensioned spring systemthat restrains the board when struck by a puck; pre-tensioned cablesthat provide compression loading to the wall panel system and helprestore the wall panel after a player impact; a ramp system supports theenergy absorbing wall panels; and a hinge system that allows the wallpanels to rotate several degrees relative to the see through material(commonly called glass even if made of another material) that is placedabove the dasher board panel, but also produces a moment that bothresists motion of the panel relative the glass and begins to acceleratethe glass laterally.

The goal of any impact attenuation system is to extend the duration ofthe impact in order to reduce accelerations that must be imparted to thepeople or objects involved in the collision. In the case of hockeyboards, the wall system must be allowed to deflect laterally when struckby a player in order to extend the duration of the impact and reduce theforces applied to the player.

The weight of most existing wall panels is concentrated in the heavywalled steel or aluminum tubes used in its construction. The energyabsorbing board system replaces the heavy walled tubes with highstrength steel tubes filled with a structural foam to increase itsrigidity. Although the light weight wall panel weighs less thanone-third of the conventional systems, the bending stiffness of the twosystems are comparable. Full-scale testing of wall panels has shown thatthe inertia of conventional board designs is sufficient to produce asignificant risk of injury, even if it was not attached to the floor.Hence, the reduction in mass of the high strength tubular steel framewith structural foam insert is critical to the reduction of injury riskassociated with hockey players striking the boards.

The flexibility of the energy absorbing hockey boards is also key toreducing the injury risk of players. Flexibility is provided by theextendable hinges used to attach adjacent wall panels to each other. Thehinges allow the wall panels to rotate relative to each other tofacilitate lateral motion of the wall system. However, the length of thewall system must increase when panels are pushed rearward. Thus, thewall panel hinges incorporate an extension feature that allows thestretching of the wall system when it deflects rearward. The extendablehinges utilize pins inserted into short slots. The slots allow twoadjacent wall panels to move apart when pushed back and come backtogether when the boards are pulled back into alignment after the impactis completed. Note that the slots can be filled with a soft rubbergrommet or other material to increase the restoration forces in thesystem.

Low stiffness springs are utilized to provide a pre-tension system thatprevents the boards from moving when impacted by a puck. Although thereare a number of ways to attach the springs, the preferred embodimentinvolves orienting the springs vertically and attaching a cable thatextends down the back the board system and is attached under the rampsused to support the wall panels. In this configuration, thepre-tensioned springs produce a lateral load on the bottom of the boardsthat resist any motion. However, because the springs have a very lowstiffness, the forces on the wall do not increase rapidly. This featureminimizes the forces applied to the players, especially during thecritical wall acceleration period when the mass of the wall is resistingits movement.

The wall system also utilizes pre-tensioned cables to producecompression in the wall panels and resist large lateral deflections ofthe wall system. Compression in the wall panels assures that the systemwill return to its original length when it is pushed back into place bythe springs, cables, and ramp system. Failure to incorporate thecompression can lead to the wall locking up because the extendablehinges don't return to their original length. The tension cables alsoprovide stopping forces late in the impact period when the wall hasreached the limit of motion and the player's velocity has beendramatically reduced.

The ramp system provides two key features to the barrier system, arestoring force that minimizes the forces that must be placed in thespring in order to bring the wall panels back to their proper locationafter an impact, and a method of assuring that the wall panel rotatesabout the top of the panel. A six to one slope from the playing surfaceside (front) to the spectator side (back) works best. Other slopes alsocan work. Minimizing the wall panel spring forces further reduces theforces applied to the player during the critical wall panel accelerationperiod. The ramp helps to force the top of the panels to remainmore-or-less stationary. This is accomplished by arranging the rampangle to roughly match the motion of the base that would correspond to arotation about the top of the panel. Restricting motion of the top ofthe panel helps to reduce movement of the glass. This is anothercritical feature because the glass is the most massive component of thewall system and allowing it to move would greatly increase the inertiaof the wall panel and thereby increase the resistance of the wall toacceleration and greatly increase the forces applied to an impactingplayer.

The final critical component of the hockey boards is the hingeconfiguration used to attach the glass support poles to the top of thewall panels. An oversized tube is used on the wall panel to allow thesupport poles to be inserted into the top of the panel. Because the wallpanel tube is oversized, the glass support pole can rotate about the topof the panel. This allows the wall panel to move without rapidlyaccelerating the heavy glass. Finally, foam rubber is placed into theoversized wall panel tube to provide some resistance to movement of thewall panel. The foam assures that, when impacted at a high rate of speedthe wall panel will deflect significantly without requiring the glass tomove. However, some moment is applied to the glass support poles toinitiate a slow movement of the glass which helps to prevent a largeinertial spike when the available hinge motion is exhausted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view from the spectator side.

FIG. 2 is a view from the playing surface side.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a panel without the glass.

FIG. 4 is view from the spectator side of several panels connected.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the glass mounting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Frame 1 is of generally rectangular shape composed of tubular materialadapted with a slot in the bottom of frame 1 suitable for allowing awire rope to be run through the opening and further adapted with thebottom portion having a slope. The frame can be of another shape, andneed not be tubular, though a rectangular shape of tubular material ispreferred. Wire rope brackets 2 are attached to frame 1. Wire rope 13extends along the back of frame 1 and acts to provide horizontal tensionto move the panels back to their original position when deflected.Springs, turnbuckles, and cables of any material will work as additionalmeans that could be applied to the back of the frame to give a generallyhorizontal tension force to the frame when deflected. Wire rope is themost suitable means. Extendable hinges 3, adapted with short slotssuitable for a pin to removably attach and connect the panel to anothersimilar panel. Because of the slotted portion of the hinges, these arethe preferred means. However, hinges, linkages chains, lines, wires, andrope could be used to connect one panel to another. Foam material 4fills the tubular material of frame member 1. The frame could be solidor tubular. If tubular, a foam to stiffen the frame is preferred but notrequired for operation. A bracket 7 is attached to frame member 1. Anymeans for attachment will suffice, including welding, screw, nut andbolt, and cotter pin. Spring 8 is attached to bracket 7 and attached toturnbuckle 9. Wire rope 10 is attached turnbuckle 9. The wire rope isrun through the slot in the bottom of the frame turns around the frameto connect to the back of the catch plate. The purpose of this is toprovide vertical tension when the panel is deflected; consequently, ropeand pulleys, block and tackle, cable, wire, springs, are acceptablealternative means for providing vertical tension to the frame. Ramp 11is attached under framing member 1. Front catch plate 12 is attached toramp 11. The ramp and the catch plate can be a one piece constructionwith the frame such that the frame is adapted to incorporate a ramp andcatch plate structure. Dasher 15 is attached to the frame 1 on theplaying surface side (front). Vertical glass support 14 is attached toframe 1 so as to permit the frame to rotate relative to the glass whichwill remain relatively stationary. This will form a pivot point. In thepreferred embodiment, elastomeric foam 16 is in the space between thewall of the frame and the vertical glass support 14. Bolt 17 goesthrough the frame and supports the elastomeric foam and the verticalglass support 14 which rest on the bolt 17. The foam compresses whenforce is applied. When a force is applied to the bottom of the frame,the foam compresses most at the bottom inside and top outside of thefoam. The foam applies increasing force in the opposite direction fromthe force applied to cause the frame to rotate and allows the frame topivot in relation to the glass by compressing. When the force is appliedto the frame higher up the foam can compress more uniformly but invarying degrees. Allowing the support post to slide within the wallpanel allows the point of rotation of the frame to move up or down tominimize forces applied to an impacting player. Any compressiblematerial, such as springs, rubber, or plastics will work. Elastomericfoam works best. Any means for attaching glass or other see throughmaterial to the frame will suffice to replace the preferred structure,including hinges, brackets, and clamps, a ball barring, ball and socket,ball joint, pin, or a slidable connection mounted between the frame andthe bottom of the bracket or some other method, as long as the meanspermits the frame to rotate in relation to the glass. Glass 15 isattached to vertical glass support 14 and held generally vertical aboveframe 1. Any see through material will be sufficient, including plastic,safety glass, and composite materials. Pin 5 is mounted in the slot oftwo panels connecting them. This is used in the preferred embodiment;however if alternate means of connecting the panels is used, it may beomitted.

What is claimed is:
 1. An energy absorbing sports board assembly positioned at a periphery of a playing surface, comprising: a catch plate having front surface facing a playing surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface of the catch plate; a frame having a front facing the playing surface, a back opposite to the front, a bottom portion positioned near the playing surface, a top portion opposite to the bottom portion, and first and second side portions between the top and bottom portions; a first extension hinge extending out from the first side portion of the frame; a second extension hinge extending out from the second side portion of the frame; a first elongated slot in the first extension hinge; a second elongated slot in the second extension hinge; and a dasher board on the front of the frame, wherein the bottom portion of the frame is positioned adjacent to the back surface of the catch plate and the bottom portion of the frame can laterally deflect away from the catch plate during impact on front of the front of the frame.
 2. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first rope connected to the frame for providing a vertical tension on the frame.
 3. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a spring having a first end attached to the top portion of the frame and a second end connected to the first rope, wherein the spring generates the vertical tension, wherein the spring is position between the top and bottom portions of the frame and between the first and second side portions of the frame.
 4. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 2, wherein the first rope is attached to a catch plate.
 5. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a rope slot through the bottom portion of the frame, wherein the first rope passes through the rope slot of the bottom portion of the frame.
 6. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a second rope positioned across the first and second sides of the frame to provide a horizontal compressive force on the frame to resist lateral movement of the frame away from the playing surface during an impact on the front of the frame.
 7. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a flexible grommet within one of the first and second elongated slots.
 8. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 30, further comprising: a transparent material support mounted within the tubular material at the top portion of the frame.
 9. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 8, further comprising: an elastomeric material positioned between the transparent material support and the tubular material at the top portion of the frame.
 10. An energy absorbing sports board assembly positioned at a periphery of a playing surface, comprising: a catch plate having front surface facing a playing surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface of the catch plate; a frame having a front facing the playing surface, a back opposite to the front, a bottom portion positioned near the playing surface, a top portion opposite to the bottom portion, and first and second side portions between the top and bottom portions; a rope slot through the bottom portion of the frame; a first rope connected to the frame, passing through the rope slot of the bottom portion of the frame, wherein the first rope is for providing a vertical tension on the frame; and a dasher board on the front of the frame, wherein the bottom portion of the frame is positioned adjacent to the back surface of the catch plate and the bottom portion of the frame can laterally deflect away from the catch plate during impact on front of the front of the frame.
 11. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a second rope positioned across the first and second sides of the frame to provide a horizontal compressive force on the frame to resist lateral movement of the frame away from the playing surface during an impact on the front of the frame.
 12. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a spring having a first end attached to the top portion of the frame and a second end connected to the first rope, wherein the spring generates the vertical tension on the frame.
 13. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 12, wherein the spring is position between the top and bottom portions of the frame, and between the first and second side portions of the frame.
 14. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a first extension hinge extending out from the first side portion of the frame; and a second extension hinge extending out from the second side portion of the frame.
 15. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 14, further comprising: a first elongated slot in the first extension hinge; and a second elongated slot in the second extension hinge.
 16. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 15, further comprising: a flexible grommet within one of the first and second elongated.
 17. An energy absorbing sports board assembly positioned at a periphery of a playing surface, comprising: a catch plate having front surface facing a playing surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface of the catch plate; a plurality of panels positioned adjacent to the playing surface, each of the plurality of panel includes; a frame having a front facing the playing surface, a back opposite to the front, a bottom portion positioned near the playing surface, a top portion opposite to the bottom portion, and first and second side portions between the top and bottom portions; a first rope connected to the frame for providing a vertical tension on the frame; a first extension hinge having a first elongated slot and extending from the first side portion of the frame; a second extension hinge having a second elongated slot and extending from the second side portion of the frame; and a dasher board on the front of the frame, wherein the first elongated slot of a first extension hinge of one panel of the plurality of panels overlaps the second elongated slot of a second extension hinge of an other panel of the plurality of panels that is adjacent to the one panel, and wherein the bottom portion of the frame of the one panel is positioned adjacent to the back surface of the catch plate and the bottom portion of the frame of the one panel can laterally deflect away from the catch plate during impact on front of the front of the frame of the one panel.
 18. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 17, further comprising: a pin inserted into both of the first and second overlapping elongated slots such that the one panel and the other panel can move apart and come back together.
 19. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 18, further comprising: a flexible grommet within one of the first and second elongated slots of the first and second overlapping elongated slots, wherein the pin is inserted through the flexible grommet.
 20. The energy absorbing sports board assembly of claim 18, further comprising: a second rope positioned across the first and second sides of the plurality of frames to provide a horizontal compressive force on the plurality of panels to resist lateral movement of the plurality of panels away from the playing surface during an impact on the fronts of the frames. 